SK Telecom is developing innovative mobility services that connect land and air transportation by working with leading organizations and companies in Korea’s’flying car’ technology.
SK Telecom announced on the 28th that it has signed a business agreement with Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, and Korea Transport Institute to commercialize urban aviation mobility (hereinafter referred to as UAM) at Gimpo Airport in Seoul.
UAM (Urban Air Mobility) is an air mobility service that utilizes an electric driven vertical takeoff and landing small aircraft (eVTOL). It is attracting attention as a service that will innovate the lives of city dwellers as it can be reached in about 20 minutes in an hour by car and can be connected with various land transportation means.
Accordingly, the government formed the’UAM Team Korea’, a government-wide consultative body in June of last year, suggesting the target of launching UAM commercial services in 2025, and is supporting private-led flight demonstration projects. The policy is to set operational standards suitable for domestic conditions, such as communication environment and safety measures.
The four companies that signed the agreement this time are expected to serve as dream teams leading the successful commercialization of’K-UAM’ as companies representing service, infrastructure, gas, and research fields in’UAM Team Korea’.
The four companies plan to continue to cooperate for research and development in all areas such as UAM infrastructure, aircraft, navigation services, navigational transportation, platforms, demand, and acceptance. Through this, it is expected to reduce social costs caused by traffic congestion in the metropolitan area and large cities and contribute to the establishment of eco-friendly transportation without GHG emissions.
SK Telecom was in charge of demonstrating and building an air traffic communication network model. In order to safely control UAM, a stable communication system connecting the aircraft and the ground is required. SK Telecom will build a network to provide an optimal communication environment not only on the ground but also in the air.
SK Telecom has also developed a mobility platform for UAM to provide integrated services related to boarding reservations and transfers with land transportation, laying the foundation for efficient use of UAM, buses, railroads, and personal mobility from the point of departure to the destination. Is expected.
Korea Airports Corporation is responsible for the construction and operation of UAM takeoffs (Vertiport and Vertiport) and UAM traffic management, while Hanwha Systems is responsible for UAM aircraft development and navigation, control and ICT solution development. The Korea Transport Institute is in charge of research on UAM service demand forecasting and public acceptance.
■ 731 trillion market in 2040… Alliance-oriented UAM commercialization in advanced countries is spurred
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, UAM-related industries are expected to form a global market of 731 trillion by 2040. As it is a field that plays an important role in the mobility innovation of smart cities, governments of various countries are also actively promoting commercialization.
As UAM requires a comprehensive range of business capabilities from airframe design to infrastructure construction and service provision, the government and various companies in advanced countries, including the US and Germany, are promoting commercialization through alliances.
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In the midst of intensifying global competition for UAM, for stable commercialization, not only aircraft development but also communication infrastructure operation capability for linking with urban transport systems is essential. SKT plans to build organic services through collaboration with top domestic partners such as Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, and Korea Transport Institute.
Yoo Young-sang, CEO of SK Telecom’s MNO business, said, “We will realize the K-UAM roadmap that Korea aims for through collaboration with competent operators. We will further introduce world-leading mobility infrastructure based on Korea’s advanced ICT I plan to try to do it.